The European Commission convened a high-level roundtable (18 June) on “Water and Circular Economy”, gathering leading representatives from industry, utilities, research institutions, civil society, and EU-level organisations to advance the development of a water-smart and resource-efficient economy.
The event supports the objectives of the EU Water Resilience Strategy and the broader Commission agenda on circular economy and strategic autonomy, in a context where water is increasingly recognised as a critical economic and security factor.
The roundtable will be chaired by Commissioner Roswall, bringing together a broad coalition of stakeholders, including:
- Water policy and industry platforms
- Utilities and public operators
- Research and academic institutions
- Industrial actors
- Energy and industrial transition stakeholders
- SME and business representation
- Environmental NGOs
- Food and agriculture stakeholders
- Water reuse and innovation actors
- European institutional and advisory bodies
The discussions will focus on the multiple roles of water in a circular economy: as a critical and increasingly scarce resource, as a carrier of recoverable materials, and as an enabling input for industrial, energy, and infrastructure systems
Participants exchanged views on how circular water approaches can strengthen resilience, reduce resource dependency, and support Europe’s long-term competitiveness.
The outcomes are expected to inform ongoing work under the EU Water Resilience Strategy and related circular economy initiatives.
“Building a water-smart economy is essential for Europe’s resilience, competitiveness and strategic security. Water is not only a vital resource in its own right; it is also central to our industrial systems, energy transition and circular economy ambitions. By bringing together leaders from across sectors, we can identify practical solutions that help Europe use water more efficiently, recover valuable resources, and strengthen long-term water security.”
Jessika Roswall European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy
